Create Lighting Device with Matter on Brainy Pi

In this guide, we will walk you through the process of transforming the Brainy Pi device into a Matter lighting device. Matter, formerly known as Project CHIP (Connected Home over IP), is an open-source standard that aims to simplify smart home device connectivity. By implementing this application, you can leverage the power of the Matter ecosystem for seamless integration and control. Let’s get started !

Hardware Requirements for Matter on Brainy Pi

Before we begin, let’s ensure we have the necessary hardware:

• PC running Ubuntu 22.04

• BrainyPi

• 1x LED

• 1x 220 Ohm Resistor

Connecting the LED to Brainy Pi

Connect the LED to pin 38 of the GPIO, as per the given diagram below.

Note: This diagram is for Raspberry Pi but since the Brainy Pi is pin compatible with Raspberry Pi, these connections should work.

Installation

First, we need to install the Matter application. Follow these steps:

1. SSH to the Brainy Pi and install the  package:

   sudo apt install matter-pi-gpio-commander

   Make sure to read the instructions for other possible configurations, such as changing the default passcode (e.g., 20202021).

2. Start the the application service:

   systemctl start matter-gpio-commander

   You can monitor the application logs with:

   sudo journalctl -u matter-gpio-commander | tail -100

   This will help you troubleshoot any potential issues during the installation process.

Commissioning

Now that the Matter application is up and running, we can proceed with the commissioning process using a  controller. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Install the Matter controller, chip-tool, on your PC:

   sudo snap install chip-tool --beta

   This CLI controller will enable us to interact with the Brainy Pi – a single board computer as a Matter device.

2. Ensure that the Brainy Pi and your PC are connected to the same network. We will leverage DNS-SD to discover the Brainy Pi’s IP address automatically.

3. Grant the necessary access to chip-tool for service discovery via DNS-SD:

   sudo snap connect chip-tool:avahi-observe

   This step enables the controller to discover services without manually entering the IP address.

4. Initiate the pairing process:

   sudo chip-tool pairing onnetwork 110 20202021

   Here, “110” represents the node ID assigned to the Brainy Pi, and “20202021” is the default setup passcode.

   If the pairing process fails, it could be because the device stopped listening to commissioning requests. In such cases, try restarting the Brainy Pi with the following command:

   systemctl restart matter-gpio-commander

   Now you’re ready to control the lights !

Control

Controlling the device is simple and can be achieved in multiple ways. Let’s start with the toggle command, which is stateless and straightforward:

sudo chip-tool onoff toggle 110 1

Please note that you may need to send this command a few times to ensure that the GPIO output state is synchronized.

Conclusion

In conclusion,  By leveraging the Matter protocol’s standardized communication, you can seamlessly control and interact with your lighting device through the BrainyPi.